Police investigating sexual assault; arrest one man on arson charge

SANFORD, Maine — In the midst of a sexual assault investigation, Sanford police were tipped off to an arson and that investigation led to the arrest of a teenager, according to police.

The alleged assault occurred at an underage drinking party in town on New Year’s Eve, according to Detective Sgt. Matthew Jones of the Sanford Police Department.

While police were investigating that matter, officers learned of an unreported arson that had taken place in the neighborhood of the underage drinking party, Jones said.

A joint investigation between Sanford police and the town’s fire department led to the arrest of Tylor Yeaton, 19, of Sanford, who was taken into custody early Wednesday at a friend’s residence, according to Jones.

The victim of the sexual assault is a teenage girl whose name is not being released, Jones said. Police aren’t releasing further details on the arson or the assault due to the sensitive nature of the investigation and numerous parties involved, he added.

Yeaton was booked into the York County Jail on $10,000 cash bail. Arson is a Class A felony charge punishable by up to 25 years in jail.